City Engineer Marshal Boyd to become Hendersonville's interim public works director

Marshal Boyd has been named the interim director of the city's public works department.(Photo:
Tena Lee/The Hendersonville Star News
)

Hendersonville Mayor Jamie Clary announced late Wednesday that he has selected City Engineer Marshal Boyd as the city's interim public works director beginning Jan. 14. He'll step into the role after current director Chip Moore resigned Dec. 12. Moore's last day is Jan. 11.

The announcement came after several board members questioned Clary at the Jan. 8 Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting about his plan for the department.

"You have not met with us (the committee) on where we are at with the public works department, committee chairman Mark Skidmore said to the mayor.

Alderman Andy Bolt asked who was in charge once Moore left Friday, and Clary responded that he had a meeting scheduled Wednesday to discuss a plan.

"The public works director is leaving Friday, and you're meeting tomorrow to come up with a plan of succession for operations with the city?" asked Alderwoman Peg Petrelli. "When did the public works director resign? A month ago? ... We're three days before a major transition period of a major department."

Clary told the board he would notify them and the committee as soon as he had an answer.

"For the record, I'm very concerned there's no succession plan in place and we're at the 9th hour," Petrelli responded.

Moore told the Tennessean that Boyd has been employed by the city since December of 2014.

"He can call me if he has any questions," Moore said, adding that he had not been a part of the discussion of how the department would operate in his absence.

"I did give the committee things to look out for and what need to be done this spring," he said.

Clary told the Tennessean he was working with the Municipal Technical Advisory Service to find a new director.

He said first on the list was to figure out what is expected of the department, which he said was responsible for IT, drainage, engineering, roads and more, and then to figure out the skill set necessary to get the job done.

"It's more important to do it right than to do it fast," he said.

Sumner News Editor Amy Nixon can be reached at anixon@gannett.com or 615-946-7549.